Egypt’s executioner says “strangling has been [his] job since childhood” and he loves it. As a kid he practiced by killing cats and dogs.

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute, Egypt’s official executioner, Hajj Abd Al-Nabi, said, “I love people, and people love me, but when I am doing my job, I am carrying out the law of Allah.”

Al-Nabi says he has “placed [the noose] around some 800 heads” and “in all honesty,” he “loves [his] work.” Al Nabi exclaimed, “I just love it!”

When he was 13 or 14-years old, he used to “catch a cat, place a rope around its neck, [and]…strangle it.” He did the same with dogs and “any animal” he could catch.

Al-Nabi said that strangling is a gift–“a great gift”–and he loves it too much to “give it up.” He said that even in retirement he will show up to hang someone if the governing authorities need him.